Congress is grappling with a hot button issue - immigration legislation that would make a college education tens of thousands of dollars cheaper for illegal students than U.S. citizens. The controversy stems from the senate bill S.B. 2611, the so-called "DREAM Act," which would allow states to offer in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. Currently, that practice is banned under the federal Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. It prohibits public colleges from favoring undocumented students by offering them in-state tuition rates, unless those same rates are extended to all U.S. citizens regardless of their state of residency.

At a congressional hearing on Sept. 1 at the University of Northern Colorado, the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce heard heated testimony both for and against the DREAM Act. At the center of the debate, whether there's discrimination if states offer a cheaper public college education to illegal immigrants.

"Not only does this grant preferential treatment to those in the country illegally, it also disrespects those who enter or are attempting to enter through legal processes," said State Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) at the hearing.

Currently, nine states have similar laws that allow illegal immigrants to attend public college at in-state tuition costs. The qualification process is based on their high school attendance, not their citizenship. Some out-of-state American students are suing in federal and state court, claiming the privilege is just another handout that short-changes American citizens.

Kris Kobach, newly appointed senior counsel at the Immigration Reform Law Institute, serves as co-counsel in the first legal challenges brought against public universities in Kansas and California.

"We'll be arguing it doesn't really matter if the U.S. citizens end up paying more or paying less but that they're being treated unequally," said Kobach. He added that "providing in-state tuition benefits to illegal aliens is a slap in the face to the law-abiding American citizens from every state, which places a heavy burden on American tax payers and encourages aliens to violate immigration law."

Lawsuits are also pending in Texas, Utah, and New York against their statutes.

Those advocating the reform argue that it's not about giving illegal immigrants a free pass but to help integrate them into a society to which they can't fully contribute without a post-secondary education.

Jared Polis with the Colorado Board of Education said the move "would be a vital tool toward closing the achievement gap, particularly among Latino students in Colorado and nationally."

DREAM Act proponents want to keep the legislation separate from the broader issue of illegal immigration because it only deals with 50,000 to 65,000 students who have been living in this country for years and who have graduated from U.S. schools. Some students need an incentive to even finish high school.

"We can't afford to not let them live up their potential," said Josh Bernstein, federal policy director of the National Immigration Law Center.

Co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of senators, the bill may be taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committed this month. It had 47 cosponsors in 2003 before congress adjourned. It was re-introduced last November.

Article Title : In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants Under Debate

Comments :

The American public is forced with a tough situation: Do we allow the children of illegal workers a better post secondary education opportunity over a law abiding tax paying citizen

I mean, that's the bottom line. If are to allow these children of illegalâ€™s a discounted rate for college tuition, then we should do the same to every other student who comes in through the front door as well. Do not be fooled and believe that the education industry is not a bottom line institution. We would never allow a foreign student who enters our country legally to pay LESS than children of citizens.

I know I will be forced to address the innocence of these illegal students (by point of fact, they are illegal, irregardless of how old they were when their parents brought them with them) But consider that many of the sons and daughters of tax paying citizens will not get a tuition break because our own tax dollars are paying for this entitlement, as we have been paying for this entitlement for all of the overburdened classroom brought on by the exploding population of illegal aliens. Or, many students will not be eligible for tuition breaks because their parents make too much money according to the academic institution but not enough to pay for that education.

I propose that if these students are so academically inclined, why would they not want to go back to their own country and obtain a post secondary education there to improve their own economy, their own country of origin? And THEN, if they so chose, enter our country LEGALLY, and obtain proper student visas or work permits to continue their education or citizenship.

Thank you.

John Ehl

Posted By : John Ehl

Comments :

As a supporter of the DREAM act, I also agree that this would enable these individuals to live up to their potential. That being said, there is one piece of this debate that is rarely mentioned by politicians and the media: many of these college age students arrived as very young children with their parents. For many of these students, this is their home and not their country of origin. As we examine this topic, that i feel is an important part of the discussion that has been missing.

Posted By : Lauren Payne

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